Revisiting The MPC Key 61 and My Role On YouTube
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.ค. 2024
- 3 things you've probably never seen an MPC do and why some people in this space need benzodiazepines. 😘
💗 Support this channel and join an amazing community: / bennjordan
⚡Those lovely custom acoustic panels in the background: psyacoustics.com
The creators you see in the beginning (all make great content):
@GabeMillerMusic @MidlifeSynthesist @AveMcree @JAdeWii_ @Weaverbeats
Timestumps:
0:00 - OMG
1:17 - Intro
2:59 - Bad Reviews Are Useful
6:05 - 160 Year Long Song
12:14 - Result
13:23 - License-Free Sampling
16:45 - The Worst Beat I Ever Made
17:53 - Physical Hammond B3 Experience
19:06 - Wrap up
20:09 - Rant, My Role Here
22:58 - AIR Instruments
24:53 - MY FINAL RATING - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
Totally forgot about this! A random selection of some meh beats I made a decade ago on an MPC5000 🤦🏻♂️😅
soundcloud.app.goo.gl/pbx1h
ohh, youtube wouldn't let me post this to expose your false '' i don't make hip hop '' statement.. :)
MPC 5000 REVIEW INCOMING!
Block Rockin' Meh Beats
Benn! What on earth is this incredible synth wave you just pulled out of your ass playing here: 17:36 I NEED MORE OF WHATEVER THAT WAS!!! o_o please... :3
Another thing to keep in mind is that you got your replacement quick and without too many questions asked because you have a big youtube presence. Anybody who's ever had to deal with InMusic customer support will tell you if you get a buggy unit the first, second, and third thing they'll do is ghost you.
@Nathaniel Walker not true they have helped me multiple times
some want drama to get clicks, some want a fair and honest opinion from someone they trust, not sure where the problem is. keep doing your thing please
And some want their biases confirmed
Drama for clicks = Dark Side of the Force
I completely missed the drama, but I also have very low tolerance for it. When a content creator I follow start to engage in youtube drama I usually unsubscribe without much pondering
Your 160 years song is exactly what we needed to hear today, thank you Benn!
Wait did you already listen to the whole thing? I'm only like a year in so far...
People are so used to paid advertisement disguised as “hands on review” videos that they get all up in arms when a review doesn’t reflect their preconceived enthusiasm for a product.
I honestly think that most ppl watch reviews simply to have their opinions validated.
The intro will live on forever as one of the most epic moments in synthtube🤣 amazingly done dude👍🏼
🔥
Just incredible, the laptop out the window ☠️💀
Ayyy, fun to see my dumb face pop up in the intro. Glad you're both enjoying the good aspects of the MPC ecosystem and holding Akai to account for the jank. I appreciate how you use your platform to encourage systems to be better for musicians.
I discovered your channel a few weeks ago, and I swear it’s like you’re everywhere now lol
Please talk about the lack of patch notes and the dead link on Akai’s site for version 2.11 release notes and bug fixes. Love your videos!
Gabe is the young version of the guy on robocop that says 'ill buy that for a dollar' Gabe when you're old you better make a video and say I'll buy that for a dollar now!!!
Anything for exposure? No apology for your bad take either? Stay classy.
Was a huge fan of your unfiltered, honest take on the mpc keys. To be honest, it was something I thought i (LoL) "needed" this, but watching your vid it instead became something I realized was just my GAS lust..... thanks again for a great review
Massive THANK YOU for just giving your take, uncensored, with no agenda.
Other than trying to get clicks through exaggeration and hyperbole.
🥛🍼
@@bryanburns9702 there is no exaggeration in the title or thumbnail, how else does he garner clicks then?
@@bryanburns9702 Okay, but isn't the point of doing this going to relate to clicks at some point? If he got no clicks, would there still be a point to making videos? Differs for each person, I'm sure, but I struggle to see how using that as even a partial focus s seen as a negative.
Also, not seeing hyperbole or exaggeration. The negativity I've seen on here with regard to his experience with a piece of gear is weird. The videos I've watched trying to "discuss" his take don't address the concerns raised, yet there's pushback over one guy's "take".
Not liking this because of perceived drama would, imo, be a valid criticism, but slathering it with terms like clickbait and hyperbole when it's part of an ongoing discussion affecting not only Akai doesn't make sense to me. 🤷♂️
@@bryanburns9702 where did he exaggerate? Or are you just throwing baseless opinions out there to see if they stick, you know, kind of like how the internet is full of users confusing their feelings for facts, throwing shade on anyone that has a bit of exposure be they politicians, musicians or b+b’s, and repeating pseudoscience that they definitely heard somewhere from this guy who knows more about stuff than those other guys… support you ‘analysis’ with some examples or your statement has no value whatsoever
As an MPC fan I thought your original video was great, I really didn't understand why so many got upset with you just giving your honest opinion about how it works for you.
Because he use it for a few hrs b4 making the video instead of giving himself time to learn how to use it imo
People wanna hear what they wanna hear. Watch the news lately?
@@brickz001 he says the opposite, people be hating and not watching the video 😆
TrapBuddah: “muh MPC is perfect!”
Same here. Tbh I get he’s going to list edit bc grid edit sucks really bad on the new MPCs. Step Edit on my MPC60 (essentially list edit), was amazing and intuitive, the MPC touch screen requirements are reallllllly unintuitive, I’m sorry but that’s to me why I feel many times that my Live II feels “unusable”. Also, I encounter strange bugs ALL the time!!! So I get his original experience frustration completely, doesn’t mean I LOVE using my Live II, it’s just not my favorite way to make music and probably won’t become my sequencer centerpiece until I figure out a way to make it feel better/faster/more intuitive than my MPC60…
I'm proud to have coined the term "mpcgate" this video was a great follow up to your original video and the following drama that occurred. I think you have helped unhurt many people's pp's. 😎
Why did I immediately think of your reaction when I heard him say that? By the third "pee pee" it was like having you snickering over my shoulder. 🤭
Les goooo weaver
I really enjoy you as a music scientist. You use precise language, logical thinking and reproducible experiments in the service of musical art.
Music scientist? Perfect!
I don't know why people still give Ave McCree their time. Dude is the Akademiks of TH-cam gear and *loves* to beef to drive traffic to his half-baked videos. Just ask In the Mix.
Akademiks of TH-cam gear lmaooo
I had never heard of you until I was starting to do research on the MPC Key 61, and prior to watching/ listening your video( I am blind, btw) I was all in for the new hardware, thinking to change my workflow into something a little more tactile and easier than using Cubase and my cc121. Other videos said very little about real world usage, CPU and RAM resources while using the built in sounds, crashes, etc.
I appreciate your efforts to speak YOUR opinion, just ignore those who will try to silence your thoughts and opinions.
They are entitled to their own opinions, but not at your expense.
Thank you for helping me decide to wait on purchasing one of these units for now.
You got that right! Enjoy your music 🎶
Classy, precise and mature. You couldn't have done this any better. Big fan, all the way from Malaysia. Keep up the good work, Ben. Love your content.
Yeah telling people their pp hurts screams maturity.
And trying to make any comment sound subversive is mature as well. Enjoy your day, and don't forget your school lunch.
@@TheBrainvision It's called sarcasm, and I don't think children are the only ones using it.
@@josslyn303 that what your folks told you?
@@TheBrainvision Ben's videos are also filled with sarcasm. Maybe ask him.
That shot of you dropping the MacBook is *chef's kiss*
That was a great response to all the drama. I often argue that the Mpc is not just a boom bap, hiphop, R&B production tools. My first thought was that he had a defective unit. I’ve only experienced the internal error on boot up since having it from day one. I love the fact that he took it outside of the “usual” way of using a Mpc. What he says about the quality of the sounds is true. I’ve filled all the plug-in instrument slots, up to 8 in standalone and did not experience any crashing. Could be about resource management. Easy to bounce track to audio. Regardless, I think this whole thing has been a plus for the music production community. Akai only has the choice to step it up even more. And they will.
I appreciate your honest reviews. keep them coming.
If a certain other TH-camr had watched and understood your entire video and focused on any potential cases of actual user error, showing the mistake and then the "correct" approach, then it would've served as a welcome addendum to your video. Useful to you and your viewers and maybe creating a few new fans both ways in the process.
As it stands they just had a fanboy meltdown, they even turned on their own viewers who didn't agree with their approach in their comments section.
You keep being you. We value your contribution to TH-cam.
Anyone with a functioning brain saw that dude’s reaction for what it was - biased, small minded, ignorant fan service.
I can think of a few youtubers who can (and perhaps should) learn from Benn on how to review a product (hardware, plugin, anything) in a respectable manner, and not in a way that insults the viewer's intelligence
100%
I unfollowed a certain other TH-camr because I have zero interest in watching a grown man act like a child. If I wanted childish grownups, I'd just watch more of our politicians.
Okay who are we talking about lol. I missed all the drama until now
For what it's worth, someone I know had the same experience with the MPC Keys 61 and returned it. So it's not an isolated issue.
But if other people need to reference your videos in order to get views, you know that you're doing something right - and they aren't.
Keep up the great work.
I’ve been distancing myself from watching a lot of the TH-camrs in the intro to this video, and I’ve found I’ve made a lot more music as a result.
I believe you are now such a size that this should be treated as a “Benndemic” and you shouldn’t be allowed in music retailers in case you point out valid flaws and make people cry. Been here since “And Gear” and your M’favourite keep up the world class vids man nobody touches your work ❤
You keep raising the stakes with these amazing intro sketches. Love it!
It's because of the over abundance of brand fanboys and anti-brand hateboys, affiliate links to the same gear that's being reviewed, and shadow endorsements aka ("they just sent me this for free but I'm free to say what I want about the same company that showered me in free or discounted gear 🙄)" as if that's not a conflict of interest even subconsciously. Naturally this makes some "reviewers" tell lies, defend clear issues, defensive, or gloss over product, company, and brand deficiencies or highlight others. I thought it was great you held firm in what you thought about a product that clearly has real issues. I wish more did that good or bad regardless of brand or product. Props for standing firm on that.
I really dig your video about the MPC... was very informative and you even compose a great song with that broken gear. Keep your good work!
This is why I love your channel. Your response shows how much you know your business and the great music that you make. Keep it up
Love youre reaction video Benn! No mpc user myself but this recalls to so many other manufacturers who need to check before they get their stuff out to us!! Hats off !!!
We seem to live in a world where people feel that they have to take sides on everything. Anything different from what they want to believe is an 'attack' on them. I would ignore them if I bothered to do TH-cam.
It’s not so much the polarization, per se; it’s the “my way or die” attitude about things that don’t even matter much in the scheme of things that gets me…
@@vjfxtheory How many of you out there actually realize how ridiculous that sounds?!
It all boils down to insecurity imo
I did some beta testing for inMusic (akai’s parent company) a few years back, was some AIR plugins. From what I recall.. [redacted - NDA]. The whole company seems to have a rush-to-release business model with little priority given to updates and bug fixes. Shame cos they have many products that potentially could be great were it not for their problems.
I was wearing a Fitbit for four years. They did a software update that broke basic functionality on Android phones (Google). Fitbit is owned by Google. Google made the business decision to NOT do basic testing on Android phones before releasing their update. The largest software companies do not do basic regression testing of their software products. [I threw my Fitbit in a drawer, and bought a Garmin watch.]
@@alanphil I often wonder how much planned/forced obsolescence factors into these companies' approach to software updates. Perhaps they were anticipating customers would just think its broke and buy a new latest model instead.
@@mutantdog. oh it's definitely a thing. Funny how many people think corporations don't put time and money into these things. Spend a few million to make a billion? Couldn't possibly be! 😀
InMusic definitely seemed cursed for a long time, they killed Numark and M-Audio, and Alesis and Akai were in the wilderness for a while, but the recent MPC stuff and I guess the Rane One have been somewhat promising signs. Any sane person should have low expectations for a company that mostly purchases bankrupt brands and aggressively pushes them down-market, but they've been on a not-particularly-terrible streak for a few years now.
Thank you for "keeping it real".
I think the importance of coming across negative reviews is really underrated. The reality of having to to listen to so many raving reviews about a piece of gear until you find someone who vaguely insinuates something is somewhat less-than-perfect, doesn't make any sense - to a point where if you as the consumer finds something you don't like about a product, you sometimes feel like the problem is with you and not the gear - how else would you explain all these pro musicians praising the thing in unison?
Please keep doing what you do Benn - it keeps us all a bit more real.
The intro to this video made my lmao so epic man! I had recently found your channel and subbed like a week before the fireworks but I’m glad I did.
I was so surprised at the reaction to the first video. I only seen Ave’s video and I didn’t about the know others. It’s so crazy people cared that much about an opinion about a keyboard.
You're a class act, Benn, and your channel drips integrity. Please keep doing what you do.
That intro is exhilarating. Supercool music content too, that generative track sounds really beautiful
I've watched a good deal of your videos before but this one made me subscribe. I love the honesty. Keep it real.
I am both equally shocked at how reasonable you are, Benn - and amazed at the cogency of your arguments/defense/plain opinions and experiences.
Holy comment section! Thumbnail change was the move, for sure. Glad you put this video out. Quite the party, during the premiere. Nice work!
I found your previous video very well done and I believe that honestly sharing challenges with new hardware is necessary so we can all know what we’re getting into and set our expectations appropriately. Not only that, it records the current state of things so the manufacturers can work toward improving things! Keep doing what you do. Your videos are amazing and the amount of effort you put into each is appreciated.
It was the same with the MPC live. Bought mine, stupidly, close to release. It took well over a year before it started doing what it was promised to do.
I paused this video since I had to do other things. Come back, Benn says “sometimes my peepee hurts” right away, fucking slayed me
As someone who comes from a more “traditional” music world and has stepped into electronic music making enough to know DAWs are too hands off for me. I really appreciate someone with your experience giving honest opinions on gear without being a gatekeeper about it. It really helps to see your(and others) workflows to see what will or won’t work for me. Thank you!
the main takeaway from this video, for me personally, is that i suck at utilizing my mpc live because i have no idea how you made that ambient track, but it was awesome. great content as always.
Benn is a reasonable guy. An intelligent one too. From what little I know of him, I don't think he has a hateful hair on his head. But he demands a lot from the gear he spends his dollar on. As should we all. I thank him for his filters. I feel he has a great position in general, and nothing he has ever said has hurt my pee pee, nor my wallet or my music making. I'd like to buy you a drink Benn.
Well said, sir, well said
This is magic! Nice work Ben
Same thing happened to me when I made a critical review of a microphone that I thought was overpriced for the sound. The Mfg. instead of having their pee-pee explode, decided to contact me to see if they could assist me as there must have been something wrong. And in fact, there was, I had a problem with my FX chain that I didn't know was happening, causing the review to go really far south for this mic. Thanks to the manufacturer reaching out, I re-tested and was delighted. Where it gets intriguing, is we then formed an extraordinarily strong relationship, now, I serve as a sounding board for a certain consumer base they focus on and now I participate in groups and talks with R/D, Engineering, Sales, and even the CEO, and often! They ask for my input all the time now and give me things to test and keep (the best part!). We took a bad beginning and turned it into a winning situation for everyone... and consumers now benefit from our collaboration (they sell 1,000's of units across dozens of SKU's on amazon daily)....all stemming from a negative review that they could have just dismissed.
Dude I’m dying at the intro to this.
You’re awesome
Benn, your review was perfectly reasonable. I am an MPC-X user and MPC firmware 2.11.x - the one that was created to add support for the MPC Keys - is terrible. In everyday use, still today with 2.11.4 - 2 months since the original release - I find unacceptable bugs for a tool that is intended to be production-grade. Most are incredibly basic and show 1) dramatic failures in the testing process, (e.g. one bug is that the MPC ignores the input MIDI channel specification and just gets anything coming in from the MIDI port) and 2) a dramatic lack of resources in addressing them (how hard can fixing the aforementioned bug can be?). I hope InMusic puts their act together before the large community of MPC fans starts looking for alternatives.
InMusic already has "their act together". They're growing their business based on a model that profits off of selling unfinished music equipment and false advertising. A model that is not challenged in any way legally in the form of class action lawsuits. They operate like this with impunity.
I'm an MPC X user, and I agree 100%.
Just wanted to say that I’ve been a fan of your music for a long time and I love the actual professional insight you bring to reviews and really all your content. Super great stuff, very down to earth and accessible while cutting out the BS. Keep going, love it! I just made a Patreon account to sub to you there too :)
This "controversy" is fantastic exposure to show your, maturity, diligence, ability, and humour! Congratulations. This is the highest relationship of likes to views I've ever seen on TH-cam. Any MMA fighter can probably handle the pressure easily from a situation like this. The internet can't even hurt your eyebrows. Keep it up.
You are who I trust the most on the internet. I laughed so hard in this one. Thank you, I needed that!
Bravo!! Liked your original take on it-and LOVED this “apologia”. Well done, and we’ll thought out.
I actually love that you are always honest man
"I'm just kidding, I'm fucking lazy." Okay, I'm so subbing because of honesty like that. Nice videos, and is honest about how they'd rather work on music than spend hours editing and syncing up multiple video and/or audio feeds all together just to make the video a touch prettier.
Benn's videos have always been (benn?) that way so I think you're gonna really enjoy catching up! 😄
as I've gone through life I have learned integrity is everything...screw the shills & fanboys, keep an open mind, be honest & like what you like without apology. Keep being you Benn
^ this right here ^
So... You address the criticism of not knowing how to use the keys by absolutely running this machine through its paces... in ways that others are not able to do...
Class act. Bravo.
As somebody who uses my Akai Force in a un-traditional manner, I felt that your coverage of the Keys in the last video was more than ok.
I got my Force pre-owned three months after it first released at a ridiculous price, as the original owner more than likely had those exact type of issues you faced with bugs (the firmware updates have been a blessing).
Your video immediately went to the beta forums, so I’m glad to see that Akai handled the issue correctly.
Recent subscriber. Your initial video on this keyboard is what made me subscribe to your channel. I loved the honest take, and we need more of that. Glad to see that it ended up being a defective unit. Anytime anything new comes out these days, there's always bugs to be worked out, so that just goes with the territory. But we need honest takes on these products so we know what they are, and can make an informed opinion about it, which could mean the difference in spending $2k or not.
Brilliant intro, class. Nice audio cables as well
Look forward to hearing from you, Benn.
It's a damn shame that people seem hell bent on aligning themselves with brands and take any criticism of said brand's products as a personal attack.
Though it's not surprising on TH-cam, controversial takes are always going to be "great" for views/engagement.
Keep up the great work!
I wonder the same thing with brand loyalty in politics. Makes for some … interesting … results.
how could you say such a thing, I think everything on TH-cam is great!
I was kidding about the CGI during the premiere 😅 keep up the cool and informative videos Benn
Go with the truth, even if it hurts some people. This is the value of your channel
This was awesome... hope you and Ave get 100,000 additional subscribers each!
Love you dancing with the ducks! Just so awesome and nice loop there with the 160 year song.
Just keep doing you, Benn. I don't always agree with you but I do always learn something. That's incredibly valuable to me.
I like your honesty and personality! Subbed 👍
I subscribed to your channel because of your honest reviews and videos as opposed to sales pitches and sponsored wind blowing from other channels just do what you do we appreciate it!
Love this channel ❤️ ignore all the videos talking about your honest review of the MPC.
great vid. Has given me some ideas, thanks.
some ppl like to be on a receiving end of the lies, dunno why though. honest reviews are useful, indeed. thanks for keeping platform healthy-ier!
Looking forward to this, I have my own opinion, but I'm sure it'll be touched upon in the video
Great video. Ended up being very inspiring for using the MPC, funny enough.
This was great. Don’t ever stop being awesome
Amazing work, I still have no idea how the original video turned into a "TH-cam event" but I'm beyond stoked to see your follow up. Keep up the excellent work and hopefully people will learn to chill the hell out when a single individual doesn't lay praise on their favorite thing. Everyone should go watch your brand allegiance video too.
Glad to see you standing up for yourself- You didn't do anything wrong and there was no reason for people to go after you for it.
Benn! What on earth is this amazing song playing here: 17:36 I NEED MORE OF WHATEVER THAT WAS!!! o_o
I just watched your fanboy video. It's the first time I've ever seen one of your videos. It was good enough for me to subscribe to your channel. I watched the MPC Key video, and it was fine. This one is also good. Thus far, going through your past videos, I like them all, except the Cobalt8M video (I hate that damn synth).
Thank you Ben!!! Speak your mind brother.
We all so love Benn Jordan. His truth is big! ❤️
Oh man I'm less than a minute in and loving this already
love your videos, met you through your music though, still can't believe more people know you through youtube than as the flashbulb, your music is genius and so inspiring. also here to remind you that I beat you in a staring contest in LA after a concert lmao. I was super nervous to meet you but you were super chill and cool just talking to me and a couple friends, hopefully soon we'll share a stage or something :b
Ironically, your MPC Keys video made me start saving for an MPC One 😅
You are a trip Ben 😂. Appreciate all you do bro
That intro was both genius and very hilarious ; did not expect to laugh this hard today ...
OMG hilarious 😂 - if nothing else, this has been great for TH-cam content. Thanks for giving us your honest experiences and providing great content. Glad you had a positive follow-up from Akai. I've got my eyes on an MPC One and am rooting for them to deliver great stand-alone music production gear (eventually).
BTW, the generative tune might give Phillip Glass GAS. I could listen to that ambient project for hours for studying alongside Music for Airports.
Really well done! 😁👊
Hey man, hope you had a great Fractal Fest!
Have you tried the dirtywave m8? Seeing as you love the polyend tracker so much the M8 is right up your alley. I’ve been having a lot of fun with the free version for the teensy!
Ok so I'm an MPC user and I started out with the MPC live mk1. It used to crash on me alot when I'd use the onboard synths... Then I figured, why not just use outboard synths and sequence them via midi. So I got a Roland Fantom-08, a Korg Minilogue XD, and an Arturia minibrute 2s. The Fantom-08 will do 16 midi channels by it's self. It doesn't use ram unless you record audio tracks. The CPU usage is minimal. I haven't had it crash one time yet. I highly recommend getting something like that if you're interested
problem is the MPC key 61 is supposed to be an alternative to having to do all that and they're charging a lot for it
You ROCK! Man, absolutely ROCK!
Can you please review the Award Winning Spitfire Audio player?
Thank you. Great videos btw
You have me rolling loved the video 😭😭😭🤣 These fan boys are a trip
Inspiring content. Great video. Makes we want to shut down my laptop and go make music on my Live 2. Keep it coming!
hahaha i watched the weaver beats special, hes awesome, so are you Benn,
keep being awesome, keep learning me som nowledg hahah
Tune in for the music and the "other" videos :)
Lots of integrity from this man is evident in all that he does on here.
Well, thanks for helping me identify at least one TH-camr whose MPC reviews I should not take seriously. (Hint: Not you sir.)
I appreciate the integrity. Subbed.
This is one of the very best channels I've come across, and I love it when you make a point to ber critical of something because it's ALWAYS supported with sound logic. Your opinion carries weight for me because unlike most of the influencers, you've been in the business for many years. You were making a living with it before anyone could set up a webcam and make money from their bedroom. But what I value so much in your channel, is that you don't cater to anyone and you don't rely on sponsorships or whoring yourself or your channel out to make a quick buck unlike many (*cough* Ave *cough*). That guy is only in it for the money, nothing else. And because I was critical of how his content has become one time, none of my videos can be commented on now because his fans spammed all my videos making personal threats against me and my family, and offering rewards for doxing my home address. So Ave can eff off and keep being dumb as a sackful of hammers as he is. Benn keep doing ur thing as you see fit cuz you do it better than anyone else right now.
Glad to see part of the issues you ran into where from a defective unit. MPC Key seems nice but I prefer the synth engines on the Korg stuff at the moment so I'm planning on going with the Nautilus. I've noticed since I started shopping around looking at the various workstations they all seem to have their particular strengths and weaknesses especially in mid market. But one of the big things for me is I'm much more synth focused over sampling focused so a decent chunk of the MPC Key would probably be hardly used for me personally.
I'm impressed by the musical talent you showcased and also by the finetuning you did on the machine.
Concerning the new MPCs (Live upwards) I had some models under my fingers and really relate to the conclusion. There have been "fascinating" bugs since the first firmware I had installed. For example I've never thought of a physical headphone out not working until I restart the unit. I kept mine and am underutilizing it for beats since, because that's what I really like to do. Would not pick this for a live-situation because of the uncertainity of it "misbehaving". Still as a piece that's loaded with software to the brim, I have never expected it to deliver in that regard. At home, I can save progress repeatedly and just restart it anyways. Since it let's you export clips suited for ableton, the heavy lifting is more convenient to me with a "boring interface" (which of course also crashes sometimes ;) ). I wonder how many people wildly defending the Keys version do actually play the keys to an extent they'd consider needing (and having the urge to fight over) this one - for my part, I'm not able and so not butthurt about any conclusion whatsoever. Hope the guys are being happy with their units.
To me the (digitally) social dynamics of debating gear like that are really mind-blowing. I did not know there's so much strong feelings on the subject. Going back to the ice-age now, fiddling on a SU10, being carefree about these heavy burdens of new age stuff.
I feel with you. I have a friend I meet and talk about tech from time to time. If I accidentally say, something not completely positive about [fill any apple product] it gets very uncomfortable.
just wanted to say, god bless you Ben. and thanks